Gambling 3NT or 5 of a minor
#1
Posted 2017-July-09, 09:04
And does it make any difference at MP or IMPS? I personally prefer to bid the minor as it makes it almost impossible
for opponents to compete.
- Dr Tarrasch(1862-1934)German Chess Grandmaster
Bridge is a game where you have two opponents...and often three(!)
"Any palooka can take tricks with Aces and Kings; the true expert shows his prowess
by how he handles the two's and three's" - Mollo's Hideous Hog
#2
Posted 2017-July-09, 09:22
#3
Posted 2017-July-09, 16:32
Then I think way way back to the last time we opened 3nt, get a migraine and open 5 of them.
What is baby oil made of?
#4
Posted 2017-July-09, 18:40
PhilG007, on 2017-July-09, 09:04, said:
And does it make any difference at MP or IMPS? I personally prefer to bid the minor as it makes it almost impossible for opponents to compete.
Some half-baked ideas.
When you hold a solid suit, notrump is often the best contract, even when the suit is more than 7 cards long. If you open 4 or more, it can be hard to stop in 4N.
The problem with the gambling 3N is that when 3N is the right contract, it's wrong-sided
e.g. ♠ x x ♥ x ♦ A K Q x x x x x x ♣ x
A better meaning for a 3N opener might be a long gappy minor with bits and pieces outside
e.g. ♠ Q ♥ K x ♦ J x ♣ A Q x x x x x x
But I'd prefer to use 3N for enormous hands - interested only in specific aces -- or honours in a specific suit.
e.g. ♠ K Q J T x x x ♥- ♦- ♣ K Q J T x x
e.g. ♠ A K ♥ K J T x x x x x ♦- ♣ A K Q
How then should you handle solid-suited hands to give partner the opportunity to play 3N? Perhaps you should jump-rebid the suit. With a stronger hand or a non-solid suit, you might manufacture an artificial reverse, instead
In 4th seat, you can use a suit 3-opener to show a solid suit.
#5
Posted 2017-July-10, 06:57
#6
Posted 2017-July-10, 07:49
nige1, on 2017-July-09, 18:40, said:
e.g. ♠ x x ♥ x ♦ A K Q x x x x x x ♣ x
That's very convincing in theory. In practice, I have gotten a good result every time I have opened a gambling 3NT. One reason - partner knows pretty much always whether to save in 5m over their 4M.
Quote
e.g. ♠ Q ♥ K x ♦ J x ♣ A Q x x x x x x
Two problems. Partner might not know your minor. Or he might know the minor, and know that the best contract us 3m. (Opener has quite a bit of defense, and perhaps a Trump loser.
#7
Posted 2017-July-10, 11:42
cherdano, on 2017-July-10, 07:49, said:
Me too. Forget wrong siding 3nt as partner rarely passes unless it is guilt edged (and even then it's 50-50 at worst) and I have ended up right siding 5 or even 6 of a minor, mind you in a very small sample size.
What is baby oil made of?
#8
Posted 2017-July-11, 04:14
Just to refresh those who might not recall the tools over a Gambling 3 NT --
♣ at any level is pass or correct,
5 ♦, 6 ♦, 7 ♦ is to play. I know your suit and want to play from my side -- often to protect a holding in one of the suit,
4 ♦ asks for a singleton or void - 4 M= M shortness, 4 NT= no shortness, 5 of opener's suit= shortness in other minor,
4 NT asks "Do you have an extra trick?" - opener rebids 6 of suit with an extra trick, 5 of suit without an extra trick, and,
5 NT asks "Can you play opposite a void?" - opener rebids 7 of suit if can play without a loser opposite a void, 6 of suit if a loser exists,
#9
Posted 2017-July-11, 22:47
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Unless you have nine tricks when partner only expects seven from you!
If you do open 3N on this, you are a) going to have to overrule partner when he wants to sit to 4M, and b) going to miss quite a few slams when partner has 3 or 4 tricks and passes you out in 3NT.
Put me down for 5m at unfavorable, otherwise 1m (heaven forbid we should mention opening 2C on 9 playing tricks....hehehe)
#10
Posted 2017-July-24, 06:59
My partner had Jxxxx in clubs
#11
Posted 2017-July-24, 10:43
Kungsgeten, on 2017-July-24, 06:59, said:
My partner had Jxxxx in clubs
I think I would have treated the redouble as natural, too.....